Ochanya Ogbanje, the 13-year-old girl who died after being raped by her aunt’s husband, Andrew Ogbuja, and his son Victor, was buried at her home town, Ogene Amejo Okpokwu local government area of Benue State amidst tears.
Ochanya died battling Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) and other health complications at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi after being severely abused by one Andrew Ogbuja, and his son, Victor Inalegwu Ogbuja.
Speaking after the burial, a group under the aegis of Concerned Citizens For Ochanya, who commended the thorough, transparent and unbiased investigation into the matter by the police and other related agencies, requested that the wife of the suspect, Mrs Felicia Ogbuja, be invited for questioning over her role, either by commission or omission, in the matter.
The group further demanded that Andrew Ogbuja, should immediately be suspended from carrying out his official duties as a lecturer and head of department in the Benue State Polytechnic, pending the outcome of the investigation into his complicity in the case.
The group also asked the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, to immortalise the late Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbanje as a martyr of child rape, sexual molestation and abuse to discourage future act of abuse, neglect and exploitation of children.
“The Benue State House of Assembly should also intensify efforts to pass the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (2015).
We also call for a thorough review of the Judicial System to protect the rights of children against rape and sexual molestation.”
